Court of All Seasons - Case of delayed seasonal change
Cherry Blossom is charged with the deliberate delay of
Spring.
Spring.
[[[ For the sake of human readers this transcript
has been translated for certain items.
has been translated for certain items.
-- He who brings ice
and snow is referred to as Winter.
and snow is referred to as Winter.
-- She who ushers in
new growth will be called Spring.
new growth will be called Spring.
-- Summer will still
be referred to as summer but will be spelled Sunner.
be referred to as summer but will be spelled Sunner.
-- Autumn will be referred
to as Fall. ]]]]]]]
to as Fall. ]]]]]]]
“Oyez, oyez the court will come to order. The honorable dryad
Redwood presiding.”
Redwood presiding.”
Redwood- “Please be seated”
“We are
gathered here to hear charges against the spirit ‘Cherry Blossom.’ She is
charged with the most grievous behavior of deliberately delaying a seasonal
change, and thus extending Winter beyond his natural time of responsibilities,
and shortening the time Spring has to perform her duties of bringing new life
to the world. Cherry Blossom, how do you
plead?”
gathered here to hear charges against the spirit ‘Cherry Blossom.’ She is
charged with the most grievous behavior of deliberately delaying a seasonal
change, and thus extending Winter beyond his natural time of responsibilities,
and shortening the time Spring has to perform her duties of bringing new life
to the world. Cherry Blossom, how do you
plead?”
Cherry Blossom sits in the front of
the court facing the judge and her court. The defendant is a small spirit to
start with but today she seems even smaller. Her normally white dress is
wrinkled and stained from the time she has spent incarcerated waiting for the
trial. She is practically vibrating like a small sapling in the winds of Fall.
the court facing the judge and her court. The defendant is a small spirit to
start with but today she seems even smaller. Her normally white dress is
wrinkled and stained from the time she has spent incarcerated waiting for the
trial. She is practically vibrating like a small sapling in the winds of Fall.
She stands and tries to mumble a
plea, but her voice is cracked from the lack of Spring rain.
plea, but her voice is cracked from the lack of Spring rain.
A young but vibrant dryad dressed
in both white and orange approaches the defendant. She places her arm across
the shoulders of the trembling Cherry Blossom and says, “My cousin pleads ‘not
guilty.’’
in both white and orange approaches the defendant. She places her arm across
the shoulders of the trembling Cherry Blossom and says, “My cousin pleads ‘not
guilty.’’
The judge asks, “For the record,
please speak your name."
please speak your name."
The new comer says, “I am ‘Orange
Blossom.”
Blossom.”
The judge says, “I see by the
proposed order of speakers you are scheduled to testify for the prosecution.”
proposed order of speakers you are scheduled to testify for the prosecution.”
Orange Blossom says, “I have been
asked to so testify, and I will at the appropriate time perform those duties.”
asked to so testify, and I will at the appropriate time perform those duties.”
The judge says, “This seems most
unusual, but I will allow it.”
unusual, but I will allow it.”
Orange Blossom, “Your Honor, may I
have a moment with Cherry?”
have a moment with Cherry?”
Redwood, “Yes but try to make it
brief, we don’t have all sun-turn you know.”
brief, we don’t have all sun-turn you know.”
Orange Blossom and Cherry Blossom
huddle next to the table for a few moments and then Orange Blossom stands and
says, “I think we’re ready.”
huddle next to the table for a few moments and then Orange Blossom stands and
says, “I think we’re ready.”
The Judge says, “The prosecutor may
begin.”
begin.”
Father Time begins to lay out the
charges against Cherry Blossom. They relate to two main areas. What happed when
Winter was forced to continue well beyond his appointed time, and then what
happened when Spring was given a shorter time to perform her duties.
charges against Cherry Blossom. They relate to two main areas. What happed when
Winter was forced to continue well beyond his appointed time, and then what
happened when Spring was given a shorter time to perform her duties.
Boreas testified to
how he was forced to blow for so long that he depleted any chance of bringing a
northerly wind to abate the constant heat of Sunner. The spirits of ice and
snow complained that they were forced to borrow hydration from both Spring and
Summer’s supplies. Although Ice was forced to admit under cross examination that
he did enjoy the longer effect of his freezing of the streets and walk ways,
and the resultant increase of serious falls on the part of the foolish humans
for trying to avoid his control of the ground.
how he was forced to blow for so long that he depleted any chance of bringing a
northerly wind to abate the constant heat of Sunner. The spirits of ice and
snow complained that they were forced to borrow hydration from both Spring and
Summer’s supplies. Although Ice was forced to admit under cross examination that
he did enjoy the longer effect of his freezing of the streets and walk ways,
and the resultant increase of serious falls on the part of the foolish humans
for trying to avoid his control of the ground.
When Spring came up
to testify she was weeping. The abbreviated season which she was forced to bare
left many plants with stunted growth. Several varieties didn’t even come to
fruition before Sunner’s heat dried them into husks. Orange Blossom was forced
to testify that it was only with the aid of smudge pots she managed to make it
into the Sunner growing season despite the late arrival of Spring to bring her
to flower.
to testify she was weeping. The abbreviated season which she was forced to bare
left many plants with stunted growth. Several varieties didn’t even come to
fruition before Sunner’s heat dried them into husks. Orange Blossom was forced
to testify that it was only with the aid of smudge pots she managed to make it
into the Sunner growing season despite the late arrival of Spring to bring her
to flower.
And so it went with
witness after witness telling their tales of woe. The basic case was that
Winter’s supplies had been over extended, and Springs promotion of growth was
weakened.
witness after witness telling their tales of woe. The basic case was that
Winter’s supplies had been over extended, and Springs promotion of growth was
weakened.
Then it came time
for Orange Blossom to present the defense’s case.
for Orange Blossom to present the defense’s case.
She recalled Winter
to the stand, and asked him to explain why he had continued his season beyond
its time.
to the stand, and asked him to explain why he had continued his season beyond
its time.
Winter’s basic
answer was that he had no choice. When Spring didn’t start, he had to continue.
answer was that he had no choice. When Spring didn’t start, he had to continue.
Orange Blossom asked,
“Why didn’t you require that Spring start her season when you noticed that she
was late in starting?”
“Why didn’t you require that Spring start her season when you noticed that she
was late in starting?”
Winter stammer an
answer and Orange Blossom asked him to repeat it louder so that the court could
hear.
answer and Orange Blossom asked him to repeat it louder so that the court could
hear.
Winter said, “I didn’t
know about it until too late”
know about it until too late”
Orange Blossom asked
Winter to clarify why he didn’t know about the extension.
Winter to clarify why he didn’t know about the extension.
Winter’s response
was, “I stepped away for a bit and when I returned it was too late to fix it.”
was, “I stepped away for a bit and when I returned it was too late to fix it.”
Orange Blossom
asked, “How long of a ‘bit’ were you away?”
asked, “How long of a ‘bit’ were you away?”
Winter finally
admitted that he had taken the last quadrant of his season off.
admitted that he had taken the last quadrant of his season off.
Orange said, “And so
you missed noticing that your season had been extended?”
you missed noticing that your season had been extended?”
Winter, “Yes.”
Next Orange Blossom
called Spring back to the witness box.
called Spring back to the witness box.
Orange Blossom, “We’ve
just heard Winter testify that he continued beyond his period of responsibility
because your season didn’t begin on time. Would you please tell us why you delayed
beginning on time?”
just heard Winter testify that he continued beyond his period of responsibility
because your season didn’t begin on time. Would you please tell us why you delayed
beginning on time?”
Spring cleared her parched
throat and said, “I believed that my season would start on time. I let one of
my aides initiate the season since she was normally one of the first to
celebrate my time with blossoms.”
throat and said, “I believed that my season would start on time. I let one of
my aides initiate the season since she was normally one of the first to
celebrate my time with blossoms.”
Orange Blossom, “Who
would that have been?”
would that have been?”
Spring slashed out
her arm and pointed to Cherry Blossom. “Her. The defendant. Cherry Blossom. She was the one who failed me,
and all of us.”
her arm and pointed to Cherry Blossom. “Her. The defendant. Cherry Blossom. She was the one who failed me,
and all of us.”
Orange Blossom, “Was
the defendant your first choice?”
the defendant your first choice?”
Spring, “Yes.”
Orange Blossom, “Was
the defendant your senior aide?”
the defendant your senior aide?”
Spring, “No.”
Orange Blossom, “Was
she your most experienced aide?”
she your most experienced aide?”
Spring, “No.”
Orange Blossom, “Then
why did you choose her to begin your season?”
why did you choose her to begin your season?”
Spring, “Because she’s
always around in the beginning. She hovers, watching the last of Winter’s snow
melt in to water my new growths.”
always around in the beginning. She hovers, watching the last of Winter’s snow
melt in to water my new growths.”
Orange Blossom, “So
you chose to let one of your more inexperienced aide’s start the growing season
for which you are responsible?”
you chose to let one of your more inexperienced aide’s start the growing season
for which you are responsible?”
Spring now obviously
annoyed, “Yes.”
annoyed, “Yes.”
Orange Blossom, “And
when you saw that she hadn’t started the growth season on time why didn’t you
correct her and start the new growth?”
when you saw that she hadn’t started the growth season on time why didn’t you
correct her and start the new growth?”
Spring, “Because I
wasn’t there?”
wasn’t there?”
Orange Blossom, “Where
were you?”
were you?”
Spring, “I took a
break.”
break.”
Orange Blossom, “How
long was this break?”
long was this break?”
Spring, “A twelfth.
I took a twelfth off to visit a friend.”
I took a twelfth off to visit a friend.”
Orange Blossom, “And
who was this friend you wanted to see so badly that you missed the opening of
your season?”
who was this friend you wanted to see so badly that you missed the opening of
your season?”
Spring looked over
at Red Wood and said, “Do I have to answer that question? Why would it matter
who I was with?”
at Red Wood and said, “Do I have to answer that question? Why would it matter
who I was with?”
The judge asked Orange
Blossom, “Is this going to be relevant to the case?”
Blossom, “Is this going to be relevant to the case?”
Orange Blossom said
she believed so.
she believed so.
Red Wood, “The
witness is directed to answer the question.”
witness is directed to answer the question.”
Spring was steaming.
Turning toward Orange Blossom she said, “Just you wait there’s going to be a
drought in Florida next year. I was meeting Winter.”
Turning toward Orange Blossom she said, “Just you wait there’s going to be a
drought in Florida next year. I was meeting Winter.”
Orange Blossom could
see her picture on the front of Weather Annual. “Why did you have to meet with
Winter just then?”
see her picture on the front of Weather Annual. “Why did you have to meet with
Winter just then?”
Spring was spitting
mad, and literally spitting out her answer. “Because it’s the only time we’re
together without some other season getting in the way. If we wait until the end
of his season, just when I’m primed and full of energy, he’s all worn out. But
there in his third quadrant, with his winds blowing and his icicles still full
and hard, he’s magnificent. And I am
still untouched and virginal before my season begins. Then and only then are we
perfect together.”
mad, and literally spitting out her answer. “Because it’s the only time we’re
together without some other season getting in the way. If we wait until the end
of his season, just when I’m primed and full of energy, he’s all worn out. But
there in his third quadrant, with his winds blowing and his icicles still full
and hard, he’s magnificent. And I am
still untouched and virginal before my season begins. Then and only then are we
perfect together.”
Spring finished her
statement. She slumped back against the wall. Her face was flushed and she was sweeting.
She looked over at Winter and blew him a kiss.
statement. She slumped back against the wall. Her face was flushed and she was sweeting.
She looked over at Winter and blew him a kiss.
Orange Blossom
looked at Spring and then said, “Your honor I request that the charges against
my cousin be dropped. She, an inexperienced aide to Spring, was left with the
enormous responsibility of starting the whole growing season even though she is
barely there for more than a twenty-fourth of a trip around the sun.
looked at Spring and then said, “Your honor I request that the charges against
my cousin be dropped. She, an inexperienced aide to Spring, was left with the
enormous responsibility of starting the whole growing season even though she is
barely there for more than a twenty-fourth of a trip around the sun.
“And why, we ask? Just for a Spring Fling.”
A giant Red Wood
gavel banged and he case was dismissed.
gavel banged and he case was dismissed.
